What About After?

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

I often read articles about people who have successfully lost weight. Stories with titles like, “Half My Size” or “I Lost Over 100lbs!” are very inspirational.

However, so often I realize that these people reached their goal weight 6 months ago or maybe a year ago. There don’t seem to be a lot of stories from people celebrating 10 years of maintenance. (I know they have to be out there, I’m just wondering where?)

I keep running across articles that estimate, that as many as 95% of all people who lose weight will, within 3-5 years, gain it back. These stats are somewhat disputed. But the fact still remains that most people who lose, will regain.

I realize, old habits are hard to break. I’ve spent 30 years eating certain foods, doing certain activities, and thinking in a certain way, and it’s all made me fat. And while I’ve spent the last year learning new eating habits, changing my activities, etc, that’s still a lot of engrained habit to overcome in a few years. I know how easy it is to fall back into old habits, and how quickly a 1 or 2lbs weight gain can snowball into 70lbs.

So many diet plans and fitness plans are geared toward getting you to your goal, but then they just stop. There really isn’t much focus on what comes after; which in my opinion is more important than the losing part. I know how to lose weight, but I don’t know how to maintain.

I realize I still have, roughly 40lbs to lose before I start focusing on maintenance. But I still find myself worrying about it. I would like to hear more first-hand accounts from people who lost the weight and have actually kept it off for several years.

For example: How do you find motivation? My biggest motivator for eating right or going to the gym is seeing that scale go down, seeing the changes in my body, etc. How do you keep motivation up when the goal is to not see any more changes?

GINNABOOTS
I have been in weight loss maintenance for almost 6 years now. What keeps me motivated is my health. I am approaching 50 years old and I want to be able to get around when I get up there in age. My parents both died last year, 77 and 79 and my dad had a lot of health problems. Alzheimer's for my mom. That is what continues to motivate me. Also, I don't want to buy bigger clothes.

I will admit it was very motivating to see the scale go down and get compliments and when it all stopped, I was a bit bummed, but you do get used to being a certain size and weight and want to stay there.

MERRYMARY42
I am in the percentage that gained some of it back, and after a few years I still do not have it off, but I did not gain back as much as I lost, and only want to lose about down to 121 or so, I had gone down to 117 and for my age I just think that was too low. but now to get back to 120 or 121 good luck, and it does take dedication.1195 days ago